An investment of more than £8.2m has been approved by Warwickshire County Council to safeguard over 500 early years nursery places.

The move was backed in a full council meeting on Tuesday, during which members agreed that the £8.23m cash injection will be delivered through the local authority’s Capital Investment Fund (CIF).

It will be targeted towards the replacement or refurbishment of 14 ageing nursery buildings, with the aim of preserving more than 500 early years nursery places.

The three-year initiative is designed to support the ‘shift toward high-quality, modern modular buildings’, ensuring that key nursery services are not affected by abrupt closures due to the lifespans of buildings having expired.

According to the council, the programme will see the delivery of bespoke spaces that consist of refurbished outdoor areas and ‘canopied all-weather learning environments’.

The local authority has also highlighted that the use of modular buildings is part of its ‘commitment to innovation and efficiency’, while the buildings’ consistency with modern efficiency standards supports the reduction of carbon emissions and operating costs.

Other key elements of the project involve protecting early years provision for vulnerable children, including those entitled to deprivation and disability funding, and children who require support for special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) before beginning statutory schooling.

Cllr Wayne Briggs, Warwickshire County Council's Portfolio Holder for Children & Families, Education & SEND, said: ‘This £8.2m investment is a direct commitment to our youngest residents and their working families. Good quality early education is the cornerstone of a child's development, ensuring school readiness, early socialisation, and vital support for children with emerging SEND.’

He added that it ‘also provides crucial stability for parents who rely on these local services to balance their family and working lives. And the local economy will greatly benefit from more people having the flexible childcare, allowing them to continue their careers’.